Sports rivalries are just a beautiful thing that we should all enjoy

Growing up in Montana, I know my rivalries.   

Montana State versus Montana (Cat-Griz, Brawl of the Wild) is a beautiful, wonderful thing. Since it began in 1897, it permeates the state at all levels.

And after I spent some time in the Northwest, I came close and personal to the Apple Cup (Washington State vs. Washington) and the Civil War (Oregon State, Oregon).

I’m not here to tell you one is better than the other. That’s ridiculous and it drives me crazy to hear anyone spout off how one rivalry (say the Iron Bowl) is “the best” in sports.

Does anyone really know if a Yankees’ fan has more vengeful, psychotic dislike of the Red Sox than a Buckeye does of a Wolverine?

It’s a pointless, utterly frustrating exercise in futility to argue one way or the other. I’m not interested in comparing rivalries and picking the best one. No my friends, I’m here to celebrate them, embrace the mutual dislike and revel in the antagonistic nature of a truly heated rivalry.

Really, there isn’t anything better than walking into a packed football stadium or gym and feel the pre-game buzz.   

Last week the only place to be was at Blackfoot High School. The Broncos, 1-2 at that point and in desperate need of a confidence boost, hosted the 1-0, second-ranked Snake River Panthers.

It was a magnificent game. Not so much because of the product on the court — both teams looked helter-skelter at times, natural for a game early in the season — but both fought for 32 minutes with great effort.

Like any great basketball matchup it was a game of runs, and neither could grab a decided advantage.

At least not until the very end. McKye Watt, with the scored tied 45-45, found himself wide open in the left corner and buried a 3-pointer. Next possession, another three, this time from the other corner.   

Prior to those two treys, Snake River had recovered from an eight-point deficit, but in just two possessions the Panthers’ fate was sealed.

As the denizens slowly emptied the gym, I’d imagine everyone was looking forward to the next meeting Dec. 21 at Snake River High School.

Of course, one rivalry that everyone in this area looks forward to is Highland vs. Pocatello.

The “USA Today High School Sports” is running a contest right now to determine the nation’s best high school football rivalry.

Now this contest, ironically enough, is asking two opponents, who want nothing more than to beat each other’s head in, to work together and vote at http://contest.usatodayhss.com.

And I’ve already said that I want to embrace all rivalries. But, folks, if Highland vs. Pocatello is named the nations’ top high school football rivalry, the winner receives a cool $10,000 — split evenly between the two schools.

Now the Rams and Indians have already advanced to the regional competition by winning the state of Idaho (receiving nearly 63 percent of the votes).   

But in the regional competition, Highland-Pocatello is losing badly to schools from Arizona and Wyoming.

It’s time to vote. Right now. It ends at 9 a.m. today.

Just remember, there is no such thing as “the best” rivalry. They’re all great and we as sports’ fans benefit from the passions worked up from two rivals butting heads.